SKK Mobile's new midrange smartphone - which goes for only Php 4,999 - has a Heart Rate Monitor at the back (that's more or less similar to what you'll find on Samsung Galaxy S5) proving that you don't need to spend more than Php 30,000 just to get the benefits of such fitness feature.

Should be perfect for those who like regularly checking their heart rate, right?

SKK Mobile V2 has technical specifications that are largely the same as what you'll find in competing handsets by other local players in its price echelon. You get a 5-inch qHD IPS display, 8 MegaPixel autofocus camera with LED flash, 5 MegaPixel front cam, Dual SIM Dual Standby capability, 3G HSPA+ support, and a 2,500 mAh Li-Ion battery pack. Under the hood, there's 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6582 SoC - that incorporates four ARM Cortex A7 CPUs and a Mali-400 GPU - complemented by 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of expandable internal storage. The specs are alright -- but really, like what I've said, you can get these from other similarly priced phones that are out in the market. So clearly, in this department, the phone is but typical.

But by giving V2 extra selling points and value-added features like the one mentioned above as well as ultra-thin bezels on either sides - both measuring just 1.6 millimeters - SKK was able to set it apart from the rest of the pack and make it more noticeable - if a bit - in a price category that's already jam-packed with so many amazing devices.

Side note: Kudos to SKK Mobile's graphic designer for doing a fine job at these online posters. Thumbs up! We have to give credit where it is due.

To quote myself in a previous entry, "To succeed you have to be different." SKK Mobile V2's looks and features may have been borrowed from popular releases by international brands -- but, at least, when you compare it side by side with its main competitors in the local scene, it dons a couple of features that are unique to it and that could prove attractive to some consumers.